Circle guide or indicator for knitting-machines



(No Model.)

. A w. H. D RAPER. CIRCLE GUIDE 0R INDICATOR FOR KNITTING MAGHINES.

No. 421,167. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

\A n-NESSES: 3 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. DRAPER, OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCLE GLJ IDEOR INDICATOR FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,167, dated February11, 1890. Application filed November 19, 1883. Serial No. 291,231. (Nomodel.)

To alZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. DRAPER, of Canton, in the county ofNorfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circle Guides or Indicators for Knitting-lllachines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention has relation particularly to circular spring beard needleknitting machines that is, to machines employing spring beard needlesfixed around the periphery of a rotating cylinder, and with whichneedles several contrivances-such as a pushback, a stitch-wheel, asinker-wheel, a presser- Wheel, and landing and knocking overwheels-cooperate in the formation of loops or stitches to make a fabric.

In order to produce perfect work it is necessary that the needles shouldbe arranged with uniformity and exactness in respect to each other andto the cooperating devices. WVhen any of the needles are bent out of theline of a true circle, as often occurs by the action of the wheelsaforesaid and through othermeans and causes, it becomes necessary to setorbend the needles back to position, and this is generally accomplishedby the use of pliers, the operator grasping the shank of the needle withthe tool mentioned and bending said needle into proper position. Adifficulty met with, however, has been that, having no mechanical guide,the operator was compelled to rely upon his or her judgment and sense ofsight as to whether the needle or needles stood in proper positions andon the line of a true circle.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the difficulty beforementioned and to provide means whereby even an unskilled artisan can setthe needles in the circle with the utmost truth and exactness, saidinvention consisting of a guide connected with the machine and extendingover the tops of the needles and provided with an indicating point oredge extending to or in close proximity to the circular line to which itis desired that the needles should be set or adjusted, so that bybending them up to the line of said guide or indicator or to uniformposition with respect to the position of said guide or indicator theywill be adjusted. in proper position and on an exact circle.

In the drawings hereto annexed and fornr ing a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a needle-cylinder and needles,showing the manner of applying and using my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. a diagram, on an enlarged scale, showing themanner of using the invention.

The same letters of reference designate the same parts and features inall of the views.

The yarn-guide, push-back, andwheels for producing the stitches have notbeen shown, for the reason that they have nothing to do with myinvention, and their portrayal would tend only to obscure the nature anddesign of the invention.

In the drawings, a designates the needle cylinder or head, and Z2 theneedles.

0 designates a guide adj ustably connected with the machine andextending over the tops of the needles, said guide being provided withan indicating point or edge d to indi cate the point to which theneedles should be set or adjusted. The guide 0 consists of tworight-angular arms, the upper one o of which is curved and projectedover the needles, while the vertical arm 0 is passed down into a socketor tube B, wherein it is adjustably held by a bolt b working therein.'By this means the guide can be ad just-ed and held at any desired point.It can also be swung out of the way when not in use. The socket B has alower right-angular portion 6 which is firmly secured to an arm 19connected to the machine.

The utility of my invention is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, where itmay be supposed that such needles I) as in the revolution of thecylinder in the direction. of the arrow have passed. beyond theindicating point or edge (Z have been set in. the line of a true circle,while some of the needles opposite the inclicating point or edge andapproaching it are out of proper line, as is clearly shown. The operatormay now be supposed to grasp the shank of the needle 2 with pliers orother suitable tools and bend it out into the same position relativelyto the indicating point or edge (Z as is occupied by the needles 3, andthe needle t is bent back into the same relative position, and so onuntil the entire circle is set or adjusted, Thus it will be observedthat with my invention no skill is required to ascertain as to when theneedles are set in the line of a true circle, and their adjustment whenthey are out of alignment may be speedily accomplished.

By making the guide adjustable the same is applicable to different sizemachines, and when not in use it can be swung to one side and loweredout of the way.

It is manifest that the form and arrangement of my invention may bevaried without departing from the nature or spirit of the in- Vention.

Having thus described the nature and purpose of my invention, I declarethat what I claim is- 1. The combination, with a needle-cylindcr and itsneedles, of an adjustable guide designed to project over said needlesand provided with an indicating point or edge and means for renderingsaid guide adjustable, substantially as set forth.

2. The combinatiomwith a needle-cylinder and its needles, of a guideconsisting of rightangular arms, the upper one of which has a point oredge and is extended over said needles, the socket in which the verticalarm of said guide is located, and the bolt for holding said arm,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of d November, A.D. 1888.

XVILLIAM H. DRAPER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEY, A. D. HARRISON.

